Homemade Wooden Crate

The challenge this week at The CSI Project is "Pottery Barn Inspired". Since I've only ever been into a Pottery Barn one quick time (did you just gasp?) I didn't really know what that challenge meant. Actually, the first I had heard about Pottery Barn was that episode of Friends where Rachel tricks Phoebe into thinking she bought everything at a flea market. Anyone remember that one?

I hopped onto to their website to see what's what. Since shipping to Canada is pretty astronomical with most US companies I usually don't tease myself with such things. A quick look on their website says shipping to Canada is not even an option.

While drooling over the site I think I lost sensation in my eyeballs. Seriously some gorgeous stuff. I just love the soft, warm, natural colours with the rustic elements thrown in.

Like this room. Beautiful. I want to take a nap there.



Image: Pottery Barn

Then I saw this picture and I thought the little crate would be perfect to hold my phonebooks and cookbooks which are currently in a messy pile on the counter in the kitchen.



Image: Pottery Barn

I had some thin sheets of mahogany from a previous project that I thought would work well for this one. I measured the widest book I had to make sure everything would fit and then just made the measurements of the crate from there. After I dragged the table saw up from the basement and outside (by myself!) I cut out 4 panels that were 3"x9" and 8 panels that were 4"x11". I sanded all the edges then beat up the wood a bit with a hammer and a screwdriver so they weren't so perfect.



I used a combination of little nails and wood glue to put it together and then added little upholstery tacks to add a little character to it.



I first stained the wood with some Minwax Red Oak stain that I had on hand. Then I added Ellrose Dairy Co. to the front which was the name of my Grandpa's dairy farm. After the letters dried I sanded the letters to distress them a bit. Then I took some Minwax Ebony stain that I had and lightly rubbed some over the Red Oak and the letters to tone it down and a little darker around the corners.



A totally free project that helps me control my clutter!



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18 comments:

  1. great imagination and your fast!!

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  2. Very cute! I love happy little projects like that, where you pretty much have all the supplies already and it comes out quick. Those are definitely my favorite.

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  3. Cute! I have strolled through your blog - you are one talented lady and a girl after my heart - I LOVE to paint as well! Love the mistint section at BM too!

    Thanks for entering my giveaway. I am going to add you to my Canadian blog roll too!

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  4. you are so crafty! wonderful job! also congrats on being featured at home & garden! i saw it this morning!

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  5. Love it! I NEED some of these (maybe i can use pallets?)

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  6. Ooh, I love your PB knock-off!!! Adorable. :) Thanks so much for the visit today!

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  7. Aww, I love it! What a great touch with the name of your Grandpa's dairy farm!

    And yes, shipping to Canada is crazy. I went to see how much it would be to buy a piece of vinyl from a U.S. company - the vinyl was $2.49 - the shipping - $20.

    Blah.

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  8. The crate looks great but I just love the text on the front, especially since it is something meaningful for your family!

    :)
    Sarah

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  9. Love what you did, who needs a PB in Canada when you can do it yourself right? I like yours better.

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  10. I love your crate!!!! Thanks for sharing

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  11. Oh, I totally love this. You did a great job!

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  12. Oh my gracious! It's gorgeous! I love old crates like that. I'm so impressed that you did it yourself!!! Me with a saw is like an emergency room visit waiting to happen. Soooo impressed!

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  13. SO excited! we put some new shelves up in our half bath and i was looking for baskets to fit on them to store our junk. i couldn't find anything just right. i found the perfect crate at... pottery barn! and i remembered it was the one you had built! so i am going to try it. probably won't get to it til next weekend, but i am thrilled! can you tell me though, how did you craft the bottom of it? thanks, cathy!

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  14. Cute! How did you do the lettering?

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